National

People struggle at Forbesganj

The Milli Gazette

Published Online: Oct 14, 2012

Print Issue: 16-30 September 2012

Thousands of villagers armed with traditional weapons offered ‘shramdaan’ and volunteered as labourers in order to construct the Bhajanpur-Sheetalpur road at Forbesganj on 16 August. This is a victory for the people’s struggle who have braved the severest repression and communal encirclement.

More than a year has passed — but the people of Forbesganj are yet to get justice. The one-man enquiry commission has barely taken off the ground.

Following the firing, the villagers constructed the road once last year at the time of Ramadan but, under pressure from higher authorities, the road was again destroyed. And the road continued to remain closed in spite of repeated appeals to the local administration.

Recently, even the Home Secretary of Bihar was approached, but the state government and administration did not act. Faced with a Government that obstinately closed its ears to pleas for restoration of the road, the villagers decided to construct the road on their own.

Eid was approaching, and this road was needed by the villagers to approach the Idgah. Because of the condition of the road, they were even unable to reach the Masjid, though it was the month of Ramadan.

The construction of the road took place in the presence of a large gathering of adivasis and minorities, as well as CPI(ML) central committee member and former MP Rameshwar Prasad.

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